THE UNSEEN THREAD

PART 16

Areeba stumbled into the VIP area, her body feeling weak as her head spun uncontrollably. Her legs gave out beneath her, and she collapsed heavily onto the plush couch, the room tilting around her. Everything felt wrong-her vision was blurred, and her mind was clouded by the dizziness from the drink. She tried to focus, but the darkness seemed to swallow her whole, and she couldn't make sense of her surroundings. The only thing she could hear was the faint sound of someone moving toward her, and before she could react, a pair of strong hands gripped her, lifting her effortlessly and placing her gently on the bed. A low voice murmured in her ear, words laced with menace: "You'll regret slapping me." Areeba wanted to scream, to fight back, but her mind felt foggy, and everything around her seemed unreal. She couldn't even see who was with her, her vision completely distorted. The darkness of the room matched the darkness that seemed to be closing in on her, a feeling of dread building deep in her chest. She tried to move, to make sense of what was happening, but her limbs wouldn't respond. She was trapped, unable to see clearly or understand what was going on. All she could do was lay there, her body feeling heavy, as the confusion and terror settled in her gut, knowing that something was horribly wrong, but unable to stop it.

Taehyung reached out, his hand gently but firmly wrapping around Areeba's wrist, holding her in place for just a moment. His gaze locked onto hers, and there was something unreadable in his eyes-anger, perhaps, or something unresolved simmering beneath the surface.

"Areeba," he began, his voice barely above a whisper, "do you even understand how much you've shaken things up?"

Areeba tried to pull away, feeling her pulse quicken under his grip, but she couldn't. There was a weight in his hold-not forceful, but just enough to make her pause, caught in the intensity of the moment.

Taehyung glanced over his shoulder and caught sight of Hyuk's phone, aimed right at him and Areeba. He knew exactly what Hyuk was doing, documenting everything just as they'd discussed. For a split second, doubt flickered in his eyes, a momentary hesitation as he took in the scene. But he pushed it aside, convincing himself this was just another step in the plan, a way to reclaim his pride.

Taehyung reached out, fingers grazing the edge of Areeba's hijab. His chest tightened, but it wasn't nerves-it was rage masked under the guise of curiosity. This moment wasn't about her; it was about him. About control. About revenge.

Taehyung stop as he heard Areeba's faint whisper, her lips moving in a rhythm he couldn't understand at first. Leaning in, he caught snippets of her voice, She repeated the phrase under her breath, almost as if it was a shield, a last line of defense.

اللَّهُ لَا إِلٰهَ إِلَّا هُوَ
Allah! There is no deity except Him,

الْحَيُّ الْقَيُّومُ
the Ever-Living, the Sustainer of existence.

لَا تَأْخُذُهُ سِنَةٌ وَلَا نَوْمٌ
Neither drowsiness overtakes Him nor sleep.

لَهُ مَا فِي السَّمَاوَاتِ وَمَا فِي الْأَرْضِ
To Him belongs whatever is in the heavens and whatever is on the earth.

مَن ذَا الَّذِي يَشْفَعُ عِندَهُ إِلَّا بِإِذْنِهِ
Who is it that can intercede with Him except by His permission?

يَعْلَمُ مَا بَيْنَ أَيْدِيهِمْ وَمَا خَلْفَهُمْ
He knows what is before them and what will be after them,

وَلَا يُحِيطُونَ بِشَيْءٍ مِّنْ عِلْمِهِ إِلَّا بِمَا شَاءَ
and they encompass not a thing of His knowledge except for what He wills.

وَسِعَ كُرْسِيُّهُ السَّمَاوَاتِ وَالْأَرْضَ
His Kursi extends over the heavens and the earth,

وَلَا يَئُودُهُ حِفْظُهُمَا
and their preservation tires Him not.